USA > Pennsylvania > A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania > Part 30
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Signed,
J. Q. (James Quinter).
Notes Taken by D. F. Good, Chairman, of the Committee of Arrangements for the Annual Meeting of 1866
First meeting held at the home of Jacob Price on January 4.
Object of the meeting: To view the ground and make some preliminary arrangements.
The committee unanimously agree that the proposed ground for holding the meeting is well calculated for the pur- pose, and recommend to the church to accept the kind offer
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made by Brother and Sister Price of their premises for holding said meeting.
The committee then proposed an adjournment, to meet again on the 1st day of February at the home of Brother J. Friedley. Ten present.
On the 8th of January the recommendation of the committee was submitted to the church and accepted.
According to the appointment the committee met at the house of Brother Jacob Friedley on the 1st day of February.
The meeting organized by electing Brother B. Price, chairman, and Brother J. Stoner, treasurer.
The following were appointed to procure things necessary for the meeting to the best advantage of the church :
B. Price and D. Bonebrak, 8,000 pounds beef ; J. F. Oller, 3,200 pounds flour, two sacks coffee, 2,800 feet twine, 2,400 feet rope, 1,700 yards muslin, 900 pounds butter, 100 gallons apple butter, 120 pounds sugar, 230 pounds coffee ; W. Shilling and J. Friedley, 13,000 pounds bread ; A. Golly and D. F. Good, tent arrangement; J. Holsinger and S. Bock, cooking tent.
February 19th the committee met with the church to make further arrangements for A. M. Proceeded to appoint a committee of managers. J. P. Stover and A. Kaufman were appointed as principals. Sub-managers, Jacob Hess, Samuel Small, A. Lookabaugh, W. Stull and Josiah Berger. Proceeded to make arrangements for funds : a subscription was taken up for said end and every brother and sister to be solicited to make a voluntary contribution.
Committee meets at the church March 21st.
1. Proposition of Joseph Middour for killing beeves : kill the beeves; render the tallow; put hides to tanners; deliver meat on the ground according to order; fetch the cattle, all for $5.00 per head.
2. A. Price allowed to sell feed for horses on his premises.
3. Brethren to be allowed to present to the com- mittee their bills for horse feed and meals to strangers and brethren.
4. All persons to eat at the tent as much as possible. Work to be done by poor sisters and paid for by the church.
5. J. Mong allowed to sell pies and bread at the cooking tent.
6. E. Stover and J. R. allowed an eating
tent at the Nunnery Mill. No strong drinks.
7. First provision for visitors at the tent on Friday afternoon.
Tent to be erected May 4th. Size of tent, 190 feet long, 90 feet wide. Size of cooking tent, 32 feet long, 20 feet wide. Six kettles, two copper and four iron kettles.
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May 7th, committee met at the church to make final arrangements.
1. Flour to be gotten of Mr. Flegle at $11.00 per barrel ; extra to be returned.
2. Apple butter to be brought in crocks or to be reheated. That brought in crocks is to be sub- mitted to the committee to judge quality.
3. Apple butter, pickles, ham, coffee and every- thing intended otherwise for the meeting, to be brought into camp on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.
4. Salt, pepper, mild, light, etc., to be gotten by sundry persons appointed.
5. Three additional managers appointed, viz : Joseph Garver, Jacob Adams and C. Shockey.
6. Door keepers, viz: Samuel Rinehart, Jacob Snowberger, Jacob Deardorf.
7. Brethren appointed to wait on tables. (See list.)
8. To meet at camp on the 9th to further prepara- tions for the meeting.
9. Cooks appointed-Principals, Sisters Elizabeth Weddle, Sally Brown and Mary Pence. Others, Catharine Wetzel, Mrs. Wilt, Mrs. Peterson, Mrs. J. Wilt, Eliza Hagar, Mrs. Goff, Mrs. Weight, Rebecca Bock, Sister Christiana Hoover, Henry Wilt and James Bolt.
List of Managers-A. Cauffman, J. P. Stover, principals; J. Hess, Samuel Small, Adam Lookabaugh, Will Stull, Josiah Berger, Joseph Garver, Abraham Adams, George Ilgenfretz.
Door Keepers-Samuel Rinehart, Jacob Snowberger, Jacob Deardorf, C. Shockey, John Heller, John Price, John Bender, C. Boyer (or Royer), John Jacobs, Daniel Baker.
Some Problems Considered at Meetings Held in Our District
(From Annual Meeting Minutes)
1779-On account of taking the attest, it has been con- cluded in union as follows: "Inasmuch as it is the Lord our God who establishes kings and removes kings, and ordains rulers according to His own good pleasure, and we cannot know whether God has rejected the king and chosen the state, while the king had the government; therefore we could not, with a good conscience, repudiate the king and give allegiance to the state.
1785-ARTICLE I. Our cordial and united wish and greeting of love and peace to the beloved members, brethren and sisters on South Branch, especially to the loving brethren, Valentine Power and Martin Power, and all the members in
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your vicinity. We wish you all much grace and peace from God the Father through Jesus Christ His dear Son, to be faith- ful to Him from the bottom of the heart, according to the guidance and direction of His holy and good spirit, even unto a blessed and God-pleasing end. Amen. Inasmuch as we have in part seen, and also heard, that there has arisen some difference in several doctrines among some brethren of your church and others, and having also seen the letter of the loving brother, Valentine Power, which he has written to the big meeting, and heard from it his views about "carrying on war", which are to be proved especially from the words of Peter (1st Peter 2:13-14), so we have considered and weighed the matter in union, and we trust in the fear of the Lord ; but yet, for the sake of the word of God, we could not agree with such view, because we do not see it so, and do not understand so the loving Peter in that self-same chapter, nor in his other dis- courses ; but God grant that we may be directed according to his good pleasure
So we hope the dear brother will not take it amiss when we, from all these passages of scripture, and especially from the words of Peter, cannot see or find any liberty to use any (carnal) sword, but only the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, by which we cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ The sword belongeth to the kingdom of the world, and Christ says to His disciples : "I have chosen you from the world", etc. Thus we understand the beloved Peter, that we are to submit ourselves in all things that are not con- trary to the will or command of God, and no further.
And as to the swearing of oaths, we believe the word of Christ, that in all things which we are to testify, we shall testify what is yea, or what is true with yea, and what is nay, or not true with nay ; for whatsoever is more than this cometh of evil
ARTICLE II. It was discussed and unanimously con- sidered, that no brother should permit his sons to go on the muster ground, much less that a brother go himself.
1819-ARTICLE IV. Whether a member is permitted to marry without counsel of the church, and without publishing the bans ? Answer: We know that all who have entered into the covenant of grace have promised also to receive counsel, and it seems to us, in such an important matter as marriage is, we should by all means seek counsel of our fellow believers. And concerning the publishings of bans, it is our loving counsel, and daily experience teaches us, that it is very good to hold to a good order, inasmuch by publishing the bans many an accusation is cut off, while on the other hand much decep- tion is prevented, which would have free course without the bans.
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ISAAC LATSHAW FARM, BIG CONEWAGO Annual Meeting 1819.
1828-ARTICLE XI. Whether brethren may have car- pets in their houses ? It was considered, that it cannot and should not be, because it leads to elevation (pride).
1833-ARTICLE III. Whether a brother who was chosen to the (ministry of the) word in one church, and moves
GEORGE ROYER HOME IN ANTIETAM CONGREGATION Annual Meeting Was Held Here in 1829.
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into another with a good testimony, can be relieved from his office (or rather literally put back from it) ? It was always considered, when a ministering brother moves out of the church which chose him, he moves out of his office-that is, before he is fully ordained; and that it was at the option of the church into which he moves to receive him with his office or not. If his life and conduct inspire love and confidence, it will not be long before he may be called to exercise his ministry again. Have patience !
1835-ARTICLE XI. What is the order to receive appli- cants for baptism ? It is necessary that there should be self- knowledge, repentance, and faith, together with Scriptural instruction, and then that it may be done with the counsel of the church.
1836-ARTICLE IV. How is it deemed best at the yearly meeting, whether first to hold council, or first public meeting and communion ? It was considered as expedient, to com- mence on the Lord's Day with public meeting, and in the eve- ning to break the bread of communion, and afterward to hold council.
1844-At the yearly meeting of the brethren, sometimes called German Baptists, held in the house of Brother Peter Deardorff, on Big Conewago, in York County, Pennsylvania, on Friday and Saturday before Pentecost, May 24 and 25, A.D. 1844, three brethren from Ohio, four from Pennsylvania,
PETER DIERDORFF FARM, BIG CONEWAGO Annual Meeting 1844.
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three from Virginia and two from Maryland, were chosen as a committee and the following points and queries were laid before, and considered by them, in the fear of the Lord, in public council meeting :
ARTICLE V. About singing in different voices, at public meetings, considered that the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, is a part of divine worship, which we ought to perform always in the spirit, and in truth, and with solemnity ; to be watchful, that nothing in our singing should detract our minds from the serious contemplation of what we sing ; that we ought to avoid such light tunes which may make us merry rather than serious; and that our singing should always tend more to the glory of God, than to the tickling of the outward ear. (I Cor. 14, 15 ; Eph. 5 :15 ; Col. 3 :16.)
1847-It was on the 21st day of May, A.D. 1847, that the brethren from the east, west, north, and south assembled in the A.M. at the house of Brother Isaac Deardorff in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and on the day following entered upon the business of the church, which seemed to be somewhat involved in clouds, and these appeared to lower themselves and become darker. This produced an anxious concern for the future peace and welfare of the church. At length the Lord in mercy was pleased once more to smile on his troubled children, and to grant them a joyful expectation of His help- ing His servants in the arduous task before them. Thus, then, the points and queries presented were considered and dis- cussed, with rather unusual unanimity, in the fear of the Lord, as follows :
ARTICLE I. Whether we could not amend our plan in holding our yearly meetings, that the business might be con- ducted more quietly and orderly ? Concluded, in regard to our yearly meetings, that the brethren meet on Saturday, be- fore Pentecost, and have public meeting till Sunday evening. Love Feast to be held either on Saturday or Sunday evening, at the option of the church where the yearly meeting is held. On Monday the council meetings begin, and continue until all the business is transacted. The council to consist of delegates, not more than two, to be sent from each church with a written certificate, containing, also, the queries to be presented (by the church whom they represent) to the yearly meeting. The delegates to constitute a committee of the whole, to receive and examine all matters communicated to the yearly meeting, and to arrange all the queries and questions for public dis- cussion ; and after they are publicly discussed, and the general sentiments heard, then the delegates are to decide ; and if two- thirds or more of the delegates agree, let the decision thus made be final; but if the nature of the case be such that two- thirds do not give their consent, let it be delayed, until it re- ceived the voice of at least two-thirds of the legal representatives. The yearly meetings to be attended by as
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many teachers and members as may think proper to do so, and the privilege in discussion to be free and open to all who may desire to participate in the same, as heretofore.
1866-The committee appointed at last Annual Meeting to devise some plan for holding our Annual Meetings, which will be more satisfactory to the brotherhood, was called upon for its report and submitted the following :
THE ANNUAL MEETING
We recommend that the Annual Council be formed by the delegates sent by the District Meetings and by all the ordained elders present; that the meeting be held at the place designated by the Council the preceding year, to com- mence on the first Tuesday after Whitsunday, the previous Lord's Day (Whitsunday) to be spent as it has hitherto been by the brethren in worship . ... the meeting should be opened with devotional exercises, and the reading of the 15th chapter of Acts . . . .; that the meeting still be held alternately in the East and in the West.
THE DISTRICT MEETING
We recommend that each State form itself into convenient district meetings. That these meetings shall be formed by one or two representatives from each organized church and we recommend that each church be represented in the district meeting, either by representative or by letter. All questions that cannot be settled at the district meetings should be taken to annual meetings, they should be correctly and carefully formed ; and all queries from district meeting should be accompanied with an answer. . . And it is considered very desirable, and indeed necessary, that in all cases in answering questions, both in district and annual meetings, that some Scripture authority or reason be given for the decision, though it should be done as briefly as possible.
THE ORGANIZATION OF ANNUAL MEETING
The Bishop and Elders of the church holding the annual meeting shall select, from among the Bishops present, the standing committee. Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois shall each be entitled to three, if present, and two, if present, from each of the remaining states in which the churches are established, and whenever said states shall contain 10 Bishops each, they also shall be entitled to three. The standing committee shall choose its own officers. These shall be a moderator, two clerks and a door keeper . .
As soon as the standing committee has been named they shall retire to a private room for organization and the recep- tion of queries presented by the delegates from the district meetings (or churches), after which all proper queries shall
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be read to the general council meeting for adoption or amendment, and sub-committees be dispensed with
This report was adopted by the following resolution :
Resolved, that we try the committee's report for at least a sufficient length of time to give it a fair trial.
ARTICLE XXI. Inasmuch as the freedmen of the South are in a starving condition and also destitute of education and Christianity, would not this District Council Meeting (southern district of Indiana) think it advisable to adopt some plan for their relief, and present it to our next Annual Conference for their deliberation ? Whereupon it was resolved that this meeting make arrangements to raise funds, and appoint two brethren to go into the southern states as soon as the nature of the case will admit of it, and distribute those funds among the needy, irrespective of color, and also preach the Gospel when- ever opportunity may present itself. (Submitted to Annual Meeting.) The following is the action of Annual Meeting upon the above: We heartily approve of the above, and bid our brethren Godspeed, and recommend to our brotherhood to imitate the worthy example of our dear brethren in southern Indiana.
ARTICLE XLVIII. Request for committees.
In response to a petition from the brethren in Virginia for pecuniary help for Brother Peter Crumpacker, an elder in the church, who lost $3,000 in getting his brethren out of prison, and being robbed by the rebels, this Annual Meeting recom- mends to all the churches in the North to assist liberally this worthy brother to bear his loss which he, through love to his brethren sustained. We appoint Brother Benjamin Moomaw the receiver, to receive the funds collected.
Forty-eight articles were considered at this Annual Meeting.
1885-ARTICLE III. As there were several papers be- fore the meeting relating to the management of the Annual Meeting, they were submitted to the committee which made the following report, and it was accepted by the meeting :
First, the meeting shall be held where there are good railroad facilities, and where the committee of arrangements can procure sufficient and suitable lodging quarters at reasonable rates.
Second, meals to be furnished at the uniform price of 25 cents each.
Third, the dining hall or halls to be so arranged and con- ducted that the standing committee and delegates may have the usual services at the table where they eat.
Fourth, a lunch stand to be also provided for the sale of refreshments.
We also recommend economy in the management of the meeting, and caution our brethren against making the A. M. an occasion of money-making.
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FARM OF MICHAEL BASHORE, MEXICO Annual Meeting of 1885.
We further recommend that our members continue to perpetuate and maintain their well earned reputation for Christian hospitality by opening their houses and barns free of charge for sleeping purposes to visiting members at their Penecostal meeting.
All surplus funds shall be turned over to the church erection and missionary committee.
All former decisions of Annual Meeting in any way conflicting with the above are hereby repealed.
CHAPTER XIII
RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
GEORGE ADAM MARTIN AND THE SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MOVEMENT
Among the early leaders of the Church of the Brethren in America as well as in the Southern District of Pennsylvania was George Adam Martin whose name is listed in the History of the Church of the Brethren of Eastern Pennsylvania (P. 78) as one of the elders who constituted a tower of strength during a part or all of the thirty-year pre-revolutionary period (1740- 1770). He was a man of strong personality, a natural orator and readily won friends wherever he went. He united with the church at Coventry where Martin Urner, Sr., was pre- siding elder. In Chronicon Ephratense (P. 244) he refers to Martin Urner as his superintendent and states that in the year 1737 while attending a baptism at Greatswamp, with his superintendent, he suggested to Elder Urner the reading of Mattlzew 18 before baptism instead of Luke 14 which was cus- tomarily read. "This suggestion was accepted and first followed in the Greatswamp and has been the rule of the Brotherhood ever since." (History of the Eastern District P. 282.) It was also at his suggestion that Annual Conferences were begun in the Brotherhood. After having attended a three-day un/or/interdenominational conference held at Oley by Count Zizendorf, to which he was sent by his superinten- dent, he reported that he feared these conferences might be- come snares to lead the Brethren from the faith and they there "agreed to get ahead of the danger by holding a Great Assembly and fixed at once the time and place." (Chron. Eph. P. 245) the time being 1742 and the place presumably Coventry.
Upon the organization of the Big Conewago Congregation in York County he was elected to be its presiding elder. He probably remained there a greater length of time than anywhere. Historians usually infer that he remained there until about 1760 when he was excommunicated and that he was succeeded in the eldership by Daniel Leatherman who served the congregation until he moved to Maryland. The date given by Dr. J. M. Henry for Elder Leatherman's going to Maryland (History of Church of Brethren in Maryland) is 1756. From that date it would seem that Elder Martin might have left Conewago in the early 1750's. We believe that he
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did and that he lived in the Conewago Congregation at two different times.
His restless spirit and missionary zeal led him to Franklin (then Cumberland) County. The names of George Martin and John Mack are given in the list of prominent early settlers in the vicinity of Waynesboro as well as in the list of taxables for 1751-1752. (Waynesboro Centennial History [1797-1900] by Nead). His name is given as one who assisted Abraham Stouffer to organize the Conococheague or Antietam Congrega- tion in 1752. It has been said (by D.H.F.) that at one time he owned two farms in this vicinity-the one just south of the present borough limits of Waynesboro (now owned by D. G. H. Lesher) the other about one mile from Mont Alto (owned by George McFerren in 1898). In the Chambersburg court house there is a draft of a warrant of land in Quincy Township (Antietam Congregation) which was granted to George Martin on September 6, 1762. On January 14, 1772, "George Martin, minister," sold this land to Geo. Shilley. He was married before September 4, 1745*, to Mary, the daughter of Wilhelmus and Feronica Knippert (Knepper) of the Conewago Congregation.
He evidently later returned to the Conewago Congrega- tion where a church trial took place because of his teaching, after which he united with the German Seventh Day Baptist Church at Ephrata. (See Big Conewago Congregation). Probably he visited Antietam again between his excommunica- tion and his reception into the church at Ephrata. Chronicon Ephratense states that when he arrived at Ephrata and was asked by Friesdam (C. Beissel) from whence he came, he re- plied, "from Canecotschicken" (Conococheague). Conrad Beissel made him superintendent of the Bermudian church, but his stay there was not long for in 1762 he was in Bruderthal (Brother's Valley) in Bedford (now Somerset) County, Pennsylvania, where he organized the Stony Creek Church. He returned to the Antietam territory where he is said to have received a cordial greeting by those who did not know of his excommunication. He began preaching the Seventh Day Baptist doctrine and "was stoutly resisted by Brethren John Mack and Staub." In 1764 he held an evangelistic meeting here which caused a great "awakening", glowing reports of which reached Conrad Beissel at Ephrata who with a group of Cloister members visited the community, organized the Antietam Congregation of the German Seventh Day Baptist Church, and installed George Adam Martin as teacher and
*While the Prior (Israel Eckerlin) and another Solitary Brother, G. A. Martin, were on a journey the Prior told him: "You will have a wife within three years" ; he was answered, "And you will not be in Ephrata after three years."
. and this was exactly ful- filled to both of them." (Chron. Eph. P. 175). Israel Eckerlin left Ephrata September 4, 1745. (Chron. Eph. P. 186).
+Wilhelmus Knipper united with the church in Germany, was persecuted for his faith, im- prisoned 32 years and upon his release came to America on the ship Allen, James Craigie, Master, landing at Philadelphia September 15, 1729. He wrote a pamphlet in defense of his faith which has been cherished by his descendants.
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leader. Many Church of the Brethren people went with the new organization. Cloister life was soon established. (See Seventh Day Baptist Church.)
After actively participating for a few years in the Seventh Day Baptist movement at Antietam, Bermudian, Ephrata and Philadelphia, he returned to Stony Creek in Western Pennsyl- vania, where in 1770 he and his wife were listed by Morgan Edwards as constituent members of that congregation and where it is generally supposed that "he ended his days."* April 29, 1794, is given as the date of his death on page 515 in the German Sectarians of Pennsylvania (1742-1800) by Sachse.
Concerning the Seventh Day Baptist movement in Bermudian and Antietam territory the Chronicon Ephratense (compiled by Lamech and Agrippa-1786) makes the follow- ing statements: "This awakening took place during the above mentioned war (French and Indian), and may have commenced about the year 1757. The members of this awakening, as well as their teacher, George Adam Martin, be- fore this belonged to the Baptists but left that congregation induced by circumstances which had their first start with George Adam Martin." (Chron. Eph. P. 242.)
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